Justin Gaethje ready to walk away if UFC gives Conor McGregor next title shot

It’s been a year and nine months since Conor McGregor last fought in the UFC.

So, one could understand the strong statement made by lightweight title contender Justin Gaethje on Wednesday that he would possibly consider retiring if McGregor jumped him in line for the next shot at the 155-pound title.

“Would I quit if Conor won and they gave him a title shot? Probably,” Gaethje told ESPN. “That’s how hurt I would be by the actions of the company I represent. But that’s out of my control. I just really hope that doesn’t happen. … There’s a possibility that that’s the scenario, which I would be devastated, for sure.”

McGregor is set to return to the octagon later this year, likely in the summer, when he fights Michael Chandler, who’s coaching opposite of him on the "Ultimate Fighter 31." The season will air starting May 30 on ESPN.

Although the bout is scheduled to be at welterweight (McGregor and Chandler have both fought primarily at lightweight), Gaethje fears that should McGregor win, he would be gifted a shot at the lightweight title despite McGregor stating he has his sights set on the welterweight belt.

Gaethje picked up his seventh UFC win at UFC 286 on March 18 — a majority decision win over Rafael Fiziev. With Chandler and McGregor tied up with "TUF" and former champ Charles Oliveira slated to face Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 on May 6, Gaethje believes there’s only one logical opponent for him while he waits for the title picture to clear up.

“I think the obvious fight is [Dustin] Poirier,” he said. “Not sure when, but I think that’s obvious with Oliveira fighting Dariush coming up. The winner fighting [Islam] Makhachev probably towards the end of the year. I think I’m either going to fight Poirier or the loser of Oliveira-Dariush. I think those are the only two fights that are out there for me.”

Gaethje fought Poirier, who’s won four of his last five fights, back in 2018. Gaethje suffered a fourth-round TKO loss, but the bout earned Fight of the Night.